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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. If there were only one tree in the world, what would happen, according to the author?
(a) all creatures would travel to touch it in order to feel secure
(b) the world would cease to exist
(c) humans would all live around the tree
(d) there would not be enough oxygen to breath

2. What does Dillard believe is healing?
(a) flowing water
(b) sunshine
(c) white clouds in blue skies
(d) soothing music

3. What does Dillard say can be as blinding as complete darkness?
(a) some camp lanterns
(b) a full moon at midnight
(c) a mind that is closed
(d) too much light

4. What does the animal in question #1 do to to get Dillard's attention?
(a) jumps in through the open window and climbs on Dillard's chest
(b) knocks her glasses off onto the floor
(c) meows loudly
(d) bats her leg with his paw

5. Why did Indians used grooved arrows?
(a) so they were lighter to carry around
(b) so they would fly farther
(c) the hunter could follow the trail of blood that flows down the groove
(d) it made them more accurate

Short Answer Questions

1. What is figurative seeing?

2. How much of life which has ever been created, is living at the present time?

3. How does the author say one can obtain "unself-conscious state?"

4. What does Dillard believe about nature and change?

5. How do ladybugs hibernate?

Short Essay Questions

1. Chapter 13 continues Dillard's musing on the "dog eat dog" world especially as it relates to parasites. How does Dillard view the parasitic relationship?

2. What story does Dillard tell about a Native American woman and winter?

3. Dillard thinks about arctic explorations, which use the term "northing," to denote traveling in a northerly direction. How does she see "northing" in her own life?

4. Dillard states that once one accepts the inevitability of death, the rest is easy. What might she mean by that?

5. In Chapter 12, Dillard observes the world at night. Considering the grasshoppers leads her into thoughts of locusts. How did early people see locusts, and where does Dillard's thoughts on them lead?

6. What is her purpose in the mimicking?

7. Describe the two ways of seeing, according to Dillard.

8. How does Dillard tie in Moses with her observations at Tinker Creek?

9. What does Dillard say about the trauma of people blind since birth who get their sight?

10. What might Dillard's fascination and stories about the praying mantis demonstrate?

(see the answer keys)

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